Top Five
TOP FIVE BRITISH COMIC CHARACTERS (OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD)
When editing began on my new book, Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent? (which you can buy for yourself – just click on the image of the book on the right side of the screen!), my editor Kate had a tough time. I had submitted a whole lot more material than we had room for, so she had to make a whole lot of edits. When it came to cutting things, 90% of what was cut was my material as she naturally did not want to cut much from the comic book creators who were kind enough to contribute lists to the books. That said, some of the contributor lists did have cuts. Mostly stuff like instead of a top five list it became a top four list or instead of a top six it became a top four. That sort of thing. The list of Kieron Gillen (the great writer of books like Phonogram, Journey Into Mystery and Uncanny X-Men), though, probably was edited the most of all the contributor lists that made it into the book, especially the many hilarious asides that Kieron made in his original list. So I thought it would be a fun “Director’s Cut” type of thing to share with you Kieron’s original list, in all of its offbeat glory. So from here on out, it is Kieron’s writing. Enjoy! – BC
When asked for my comics secret origin, I normally say something like “I didn’t really read comics until I was in my twenties” because it’s easier that way, and also dodges a lot of awkward follow-ups. But it’s also a lie. I just didn’t read many comics when I was a teenager When I was a proper kid, with chirpy optimism and undescended gonads, I read whatever comics I could find. And even if I didn’t buy them as a teen, if they were left around, I’d totally have a good old flick. I’ll read anything, especially if it involves a dude’s head exploding in a suitably transgressive fashion. Or emotions. Always up for head-exploding and emotions, me.
Anyway – this is everything you need to know about five great British comic characters you probably won’t have heard of, unless you have, in which case well done you. I find you alluring. Yes, sexually. I’m going to try and choose ones which won’t have appeared in Zenith or Albion or in the corner of a panel in whatever League issue Moore’s putting out. Because talking about them is Jess Nevins’ job, and I’m no scab.
I really do find you very alluring, by the way.
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My Five Most Influential Croatian Comic Book Artists
Goran Sudžuka is an acclaimed Croatian artist who started off working in animation before he began working in comics, as well, initially with the great Darko Macan. Sudžuka has done a number of series for DC’s Vertigo line of comics, including being the regular alternate artist on the award-winning and extremely popular Y the Last Man series with writer Brian K. Vaughan. Recently, he worked on Wolverine with writer Jason Aaron. – BC
Although this is my list, I’m sure you would find the same names on most such lists made by Croatian artists of the younger (forty-five and below) generation.
But first, let me give you a brief history of Croatian comics.
Top 11 #111 Issues of All-Time!
What the hell, I still have some time left in 1/11/11, so let’s take a look at the top #111 issues of all-time!
Let’s begin!
Top Five John Romita-Designed Costumes!
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) concludes with a look at the brilliant costume design work of John Romita Sr. Romita was SUCH an excellent costume designer that almost all of the prominent costumes that he designed are STILL being used today, while most other costumes get changed over the years. Here are his top five costumes that he designed (or co-designed)!
Enjoy!
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Top Five Daredevil Artists
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a look at a counterpart to the top Daredevil writers by looking at the top Daredevil ARTISTS over the years!
Enjoy!
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Top Five Daredevil Writers
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a look at the top writers on Daredevil.
Enjoy!
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Top Five Carl Barks Creations (Not Named Scrooge McDuck)
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a look at the comic book genius of Carl Barks, through a look at the top characters he created over the years (not counting his most famous creation, Scrooge McDuck, because, well, what’s the fun in saying “Scrooge McDuck is the top creation by Carl Barks”?)!
Enjoy!
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Top Fives Joneses…Part the Third
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a three-part take on “Keeping Up With the Joneses” by looking at the top five comic book artists, comic book writers and comic book characters with the last name of Jones.
Today we look at the top five characters with the last name of Jones!
Enjoy!
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Top Fives Joneses…Part the Second
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a three-part take on “Keeping Up With the Joneses” by looking at the top five comic book artists, comic book writers and comic book characters with the last name of Jones.
Today we look at the top five writers with the last name of Jones!
Enjoy!
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Top Fives Joneses
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a three-part take on “Keeping Up With the Joneses” by looking at the top five comic book artists, writers and comic book characters with the last name of Jones.
Today we look at the top five artists with the last name of Jones!
Enjoy!
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Top Five DC Comics Annual Themes
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a look at the top annual themes for DC Comics. From 1991-2001, DC’s Annuals all had an overall theme. Here are the top five…
Enjoy!
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Top Five Lies/Deceptions by Professor X
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a look at the founder of the X-Men who, for being such a good guy, seems to like to lie and deceive (all in the name of altruism, I suppose) constantly!
Here are his top five lies/deceptions…
Enjoy!
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Top Five 400th Issues
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a sequel, of sorts, to a list that a lot of folks enjoyed. Let’s take a look at the top 400th issues out there!
Enjoy!
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Top Five Comic Book Characters Who Debuted in Comic-Based Cartoons
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a look at characters who debuted in cartoons based on comic books and were then brought over to the comic books that the cartoons were based on (in other words, not characters like Mickey, Donald or the Simpsons). Oh, and by “brought over to the comics,” I mean in the normal continuity, not cartoon tie-in comics.
Enjoy!
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Top Five Characters Who Debuted in Tales of Suspense!
Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far this month) continues with a look at the top characters to have debuted in the pages of Tales of Suspense, including a brutal choice at #5 (if I had not sworn off ever using ties at #5, I would have gone with a tie).
Enjoy!
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